New Jersey Sales Tax Calculator 2026 — 6.625% Rate
Calculate New Jersey sales tax on any purchase instantly. NJ has a flat 6.625% state rate with no general local add-on, plus a reduced 3.3125% Urban Enterprise Zone rate at certified in-person retailers. Enter your purchase amount to see state tax, local tax, and the total amount due — all calculated privately in your browser.
The New Jersey Sales Tax Calculator is a free, browser-based tool that applies NJ's flat 6.625% statewide sales tax (halved to 3.3125% inside 32 Urban Enterprise Zones like Newark, Camden, and Bridgeton) to any purchase. Groceries, clothing under $110, and prescription drugs are automatically exempted per NJ Division of Taxation rules. Enter the purchase amount for instant itemized tax and total. Updated 2026-07-21.
New Jersey Sales Tax Rate: 6.625% Flat Statewide
The New Jersey state sales tax rate is a flat 6.625% — unlike most U.S. states, NJ has NO general county or city add-on. A $100 purchase costs $106.625 statewide, whether you buy it in Newark, Cherry Hill, or Atlantic City. The only exception: 32 designated Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs) where eligible in-person retail purchases are taxed at a reduced 3.3125% — exactly half the statewide rate — to support economic development in those areas. The Tax Foundation 2026 reports a state average of 6.6% because the UEZ reduced rate pulls the all-state mean slightly below the statutory 6.625%.
What Is and Isn't Taxed in New Jersey
New Jersey exempts most unprepared grocery items from state sales tax, which helps reduce the cost of essential food purchases. New Jersey exempts most clothing items from state sales tax, making it a tax-friendly state for apparel purchases. Prescription drugs are also exempt from sales tax in New Jersey.
New Jersey Sales Tax Holidays
New Jersey exempts most clothing under $110 and prescription drugs. During a sales tax holiday, qualifying items are sold without collecting state sales tax — and sometimes local sales tax too. Check the New Jersey Department of Revenue website for exact dates, eligible items, and price limits each year.
How to Calculate New Jersey Sales Tax
To calculate New Jersey sales tax, multiply the purchase price by the applicable rate. For most purchases statewide: price × 6.625% = tax. For in-person purchases at a certified Urban Enterprise Zone retailer: price × 3.3125% = tax. Example: a $200 purchase at the standard 6.625% state rate = $13.25 tax = $213.25 total; at the UEZ reduced 3.3125% rate = $6.63 tax = $206.63 total. Online and out-of-zone purchases never qualify for the UEZ discount — you must shop in person at the participating store.
Tips for Accurate Sales Tax Calculations
Always confirm the exact local rate for your specific city or county — the combined average (6.6%) is a statewide mean and may differ from your actual checkout rate. Large purchases like vehicles, appliances, or electronics are where the difference between state-only and combined rates matters most. Keep receipts that show the tax rate used; this helps verify correct tax was charged and supports any refund claims for exempt purchases. If you are making a business purchase, check whether your state offers a sales tax exemption certificate to avoid paying tax on resale items.
New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones & Special Rates
Per the New Jersey Division of Taxation (nj.gov/treasury/taxation): New Jersey charges a flat 6.625% state sales tax statewide with NO general county or city add-on — the lowest no-local-tax northeastern state. The exception: 32 designated Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs) like Newark, Camden, Trenton, Paterson, and Atlantic City offer a REDUCED 3.3125% sales tax on most retail purchases made AT participating UEZ businesses (you must shop in person at the certified UEZ store; online doesn't qualify). Special categories: motor vehicles 6.625% at title transfer; restaurant meals 6.625% (no local meals tax); cannabis dispensary sales include a separate 7% Social Equity Excise Fee + 2% local option.
NJ Sales Tax on Cars, Boats, and Major Purchases
Motor vehicles purchased in New Jersey are taxed at the full 6.625% at title transfer — the UEZ reduced rate does NOT apply to vehicles regardless of where you buy. A $30,000 car = $1,987.50 in NJ sales tax, paid at the DMV when you register. Out-of-state buyers who title their vehicle in NJ owe the difference between their home state's rate and 6.625% (if higher). Boats and recreational vessels follow the same 6.625% rate, capped at a maximum tax of $20,000 per boat (a 2016 reform to stop NJ boaters from registering vessels in Delaware). Major appliances and electronics: standard 6.625%. Used cars purchased from a private party also owe 6.625% at title transfer — there is no private-sale exemption in NJ. Updated 2026-07-02.
New Jersey vs Neighboring States Sales Tax Comparison (2026)
NJ's 6.625% flat rate is a middle-of-the-pack Northeast rate, but the neighbor comparison is what matters if you shop across state lines. Delaware: 0% sales tax statewide — no state or local sales tax at all, one of five NOMAD states (New Hampshire, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, Delaware). NJ residents who cross into DE for major purchases (electronics, appliances, furniture) legally owe NJ use tax at 6.625% when they bring the item home, but enforcement is virtually nil on personal items under $500. New York: 4% state + 4.375%–4.875% local = 8%–8.875% combined in NYC — higher than NJ, which is why NJ Newark/JC/Hoboken residents rarely shop NYC for big-ticket items. Pennsylvania: 6% state + 0%–2% local = 6%–8% — Philadelphia's 8% is slightly above NJ, but grocery-tax exemption is broader in PA (all food and clothing exempt vs NJ's clothing exemption only). Connecticut: 6.35% flat — very close to NJ. Bottom line: NJ residents in Bergen, Salem, and Cumberland counties get real savings crossing to DE (0%) for big appliances; crossing to NY or PA rarely saves anything after the trip. Source: NJ Division of Taxation Publication SU-4 (2026). Updated 2026-07-12.
Digital Goods, Streaming, and Software Sales Tax in New Jersey
Per NJ Division of Taxation Bulletin TB-72, digital products delivered electronically are taxable at 6.625% — including e-books, movies, music downloads, streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+), video games, and software-as-a-service (SaaS). This is a common surprise for NJ residents who assume online = tax-free. Physical books stay untaxed (books remain exempt); an e-book of the same title = 6.625% tax. Custom software delivered on a tangible medium is exempt; canned software (Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud) is taxable regardless of delivery method. Cloud subscriptions like Dropbox, Google Workspace, or GitHub Copilot billed to a NJ ZIP code all include 6.625% sales tax at checkout. Compare your monthly subscription statements — if a NJ-based vendor is not collecting sales tax on digital services, you likely owe use tax on Form ST-18 when filing your annual NJ-1040.
New Jersey Sales Tax Quick-Lookup by Purchase Amount (2026)
At the flat 6.625% statewide rate the tax on a common purchase is easy to sanity-check without the calculator. $10 carries 66¢ tax for a total of $10.66; $25 carries $1.66 for $26.66; $50 carries $3.31 for $53.31; $100 carries $6.63 for $106.63; $500 carries $33.13 for $533.13; $1,000 carries $66.25 for $1,066.25; and $5,000 carries $331.25 for $5,331.25. In an Urban Enterprise Zone or in Salem County the qualifying-retailer rate is exactly half — 3.3125% — so a $1,000 purchase carries $33.13 instead of $66.25. New Jersey adds no county or city sales tax on top of these figures, which is the main way it differs from neighbouring New York and Pennsylvania: the rate you see here is the rate you pay anywhere in the state. Register-level rounding is done per transaction, not per line item, so a receipt can differ from these figures by a cent. The current rate and the reduced-rate programmes are published by the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Updated 2026-08-18.
New Jersey Sales Tax Calculator in Reverse: Back Out Tax From a Total
Switch Calculation Mode to Remove tax from a total (reverse) when you already know what you paid and need the pre-tax price — the number bookkeepers, expense reports, and NJ business filings actually ask for. The formula is pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate), not total minus the rate, which is the mistake that leaves receipts a few cents off. Example at the 6.625% statewide rate: a $107.00 receipt divides to $100.35 pre-tax plus $6.62 in sales tax. Confirm your exact local rate with the New Jersey Division of Taxation before filing. Updated 2026-07-29.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Salem County have a lower sales tax rate than the rest of New Jersey?
Yes. Qualifying retailers in Salem County charge 3.3125%, exactly half the 6.625% statewide rate, under the same reduced-rate provision that applies in Urban Enterprise Zones. It is not a discount every seller applies — the retailer must be registered for the programme, and it does not cover motor vehicles, alcohol, cigarettes, restaurant meals or services. Pick the Salem County option in the Rate dropdown above to see the reduced figure.
How much is sales tax on $1,000 in New Jersey?
$66.25, for a total of $1,066.25 at the 6.625% statewide rate. At the reduced 3.3125% Urban Enterprise Zone or Salem County rate it is $33.13, for a total of $1,033.13. New Jersey charges no county or municipal sales tax on top, so these totals are the same anywhere in the state.
What is the sales tax rate in New Jersey?
The New Jersey state sales tax rate is 6.625% — a flat statewide rate with NO general local sales tax. In 32 designated Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs), eligible in-person purchases are taxed at the reduced rate of 3.3125%. (Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2026.)
Does New Jersey tax groceries?
New Jersey exempts most unprepared groceries from sales tax. Prepared food, candy, soft drinks, and dietary supplements ARE taxable at 6.625%. Restaurant meals are also taxed at the full rate.
Is clothing taxed in New Jersey?
No — New Jersey is one of the few states that broadly exempts clothing and footwear from sales tax, with no dollar limit per item. The exemption does NOT cover fur clothing, sports equipment, or protective gear (helmets, work boots), which ARE taxable at 6.625%.
What is the combined sales tax rate in New Jersey?
The combined sales tax rate in New Jersey is 6.625% — a flat statewide rate with no general local addition. The Tax Foundation 2026 average shows 6.6% because the Urban Enterprise Zone reduced rate of 3.3125% pulls the average slightly below the statutory 6.625%.
How do I calculate sales tax in New Jersey?
Multiply the purchase price by 0.06625. Example: $50 × 0.06625 = $3.31 tax, total $53.31. For UEZ in-person purchases: $50 × 0.033125 = $1.66 tax, total $51.66.
Is this New Jersey sales tax calculator free?
Yes — 100% free, no sign-up, no data leaves your browser. Use it for as many purchases as you want and bookmark the page for future receipts.
Does New Jersey have a clothing sales tax exemption?
Yes — clothing and footwear are exempt from sales tax in NJ regardless of price, with no per-item dollar cap. This is unique versus New York ($110/item limit) or Pennsylvania (some categories taxed). The exemption excludes accessories (jewelry, handbags), athletic and protective gear, and fur clothing — those ARE taxed at 6.625%.
How much is sales tax on a car in New Jersey?
New Jersey charges 6.625% sales tax on motor vehicles at title transfer, applied to the full purchase price minus any trade-in credit. A $30,000 car = $1,987.50 in tax. The Urban Enterprise Zone reduced rate does NOT apply to vehicles. Out-of-state purchases that you title in NJ also owe 6.625% (less any sales tax paid in the buying state). Used car purchases from a private party are also taxed at 6.625% — there is no private-sale exemption.
Does the UEZ reduced rate apply to online orders?
No. The 3.3125% Urban Enterprise Zone rate only applies to qualifying retail purchases made IN PERSON at a certified UEZ business. Online orders shipped from a UEZ store are taxed at the standard 6.625% statewide rate. Restaurants, motor vehicles, and most services also do not qualify, regardless of UEZ location.
Is Netflix, Spotify, or Amazon Prime taxed in New Jersey?
Yes. Per NJ Division of Taxation Bulletin TB-72, digital streaming and subscription services delivered electronically are taxable at 6.625%. Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Peacock all include NJ sales tax at checkout when billed to a New Jersey address. Physical books remain exempt but e-books are taxable — a common surprise for NJ Kindle buyers.
Do I owe use tax on out-of-state purchases in New Jersey?
Yes if the seller did not charge NJ sales tax. New Jersey's use tax rate matches the sales tax (6.625%) and applies to items purchased tax-free from out-of-state sellers, then used in NJ. Report it on Form ST-18 or line 45 of Form NJ-1040. Common examples: Amazon third-party sellers below the $100,000 economic nexus threshold, Delaware or NH tax-free purchases you bring home, and some direct-to-consumer online brands.
How does New Jersey sales tax compare to Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York?
Delaware: 0% sales tax statewide — no state or local sales tax. New York: 4% state + 4.375%-4.875% local = 8%-8.875% combined in NYC. Pennsylvania: 6% state + 0%-2% local = 6%-8% combined (Philadelphia 8%). Connecticut: 6.35% flat. New Jersey at 6.625% flat sits below NY and Philadelphia but above CT and DE. Bergen, Salem, and Cumberland County residents who cross to Delaware for major appliances or electronics legally owe NJ use tax on the purchase, but personal-item enforcement is minimal. Source: NJ Division of Taxation Publication SU-4.
Do NJ residents have to pay sales tax buying a car in Delaware or New Hampshire?
Yes. When you title and register a car bought in Delaware or New Hampshire in New Jersey, you owe NJ sales tax at 6.625% on the full purchase price at the DMV at title transfer — regardless of whether Delaware or NH charged any sales tax at purchase (they don't). The only way to avoid NJ sales tax on an out-of-state car is to establish residency and register the vehicle in another state, which requires actually moving. Dealer paperwork often includes a NJ tax estimate but the final amount is calculated by the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission on title day.
How do I reverse calculate New Jersey sales tax from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate — do not subtract the percentage. At the 6.625% statewide NJ rate, a $107.00 total divides to $100.35 pre-tax and $6.65 in sales tax. Set Calculation Mode on this page to 'Remove tax from a total (reverse)' and enter the amount you actually paid; the calculator returns the pre-tax price, the state share, the local share, and the total tax.
Why does subtracting 6.625% from my New Jersey total give the wrong pre-tax price?
Because the tax was charged on the smaller pre-tax figure, not on the total. Subtracting 6.625% of $107.00 removes more than was ever added, leaving you short by a few cents on small receipts and by dollars on large ones. The correct reverse formula is total ÷ (1 + rate). This is the most common error on expense reports and NJ sales-tax returns, and the reverse mode in this calculator applies the correct formula automatically.